Netanyahu Secures Key Slots for Ministers in Likud List Amid Internal Party Turmoil

In the early hours of the morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finalized a dramatic reshaping of the Likud party list for the upcoming Knesset elections by securing reserved slots for ministers Gideon Sa'ar, Haim Katz, and Israel Katz. This move, completed around 1:15 a.m. while Netanyahu was still at his office, effectively bypasses the upcoming primaries and signals a strategic effort to strengthen the party amid unfavorable polls.

The decision to reserve a top-ten spot for Israel Katz was made about a week prior and was executed through a rarely used clause in the Likud party constitution that allows the party leader to reserve a candidate slot without bureaucratic hurdles. Katz and Haim Katz, both influential within the party's mechanisms, are seen as pivotal allies who can mobilize support or opposition to Netanyahu's initiatives. Officially, Netanyahu's team justified Israel Katz's reservation by citing the need for him to focus on security matters amid tensions with Iran, avoiding political distractions.

However, insiders suggest that Israel Katz leveraged his position to demand a reserved slot, effectively pressuring Netanyahu. Additionally, Netanyahu aims to shape the top tier of the list to block popular figures like MK Tali Gottlieb, who does not align with his political direction. Gottlieb criticized the move as "shameful," accusing Katz of fearing primary results and mocking Likud voters.

Netanyahu's broader strategy involves securing ten reserved slots, including nine up to the 29th position and one for MK Michel Buskila, an ally of Gideon Sa'ar. This approach marks a significant shift from previous elections, where the party list was more influenced by rank-and-file members and the central committee. Now, Netanyahu seeks direct control to present a more moderate and diverse list to regain voters lost to other parties.

The internal conflict over the reserved slots has intensified, with fewer realistic Knesset spots available and fierce competition expected in the primaries scheduled for next Monday. Despite the backlash within Likud, Netanyahu appears determined to prioritize electoral victory over internal consensus, effectively creating a "new Likud" less dependent on primary outcomes and more on his curated list.